Rival Darling: A Young Adult Hockey Romance (The Darling Devils Series)

THE ATMOSPHERE at the arena was palpable as we arrived. It was frenzied and fractious, and I had a feeling the excited cheers coming from the crowd could morph into fury and frustration at any second. The stands were overflowing with people, and the red and gold colors of our two schools clashed together like waves fighting to get to the shore first. The rivalry between the teams was fiercer than ever, and I imagined it was only adding to the intensity of the game.

As Paige and I ascended the stairs to find a seat in the stands, we heard a shout.

“Thank God, you’re back!” Cammie was standing a few steps ahead of us, and she quickly rushed down them to meet us. “Took you long enough,” she said to Paige. “He’s still playing terribly, by the way.”

“Hopefully not for much longer…” Paige said, giving me an encouraging smile.

Cammie also turned her attention to me, but I didn’t receive a warm welcome like Paige. Instead, Cammie punched me in the arm. “What the hell? Why’d you break up with Reed?”

“Uh, ouch!” I rubbed the tender spot where she’d thumped me. Cammie was stronger than she looked. “It’s a long story.”

“Well, I hope you’ve come to your senses,” she replied. “Reed can be an idiot, but he really likes you.”

I gave her a tight smile, unsure how to respond. Thankfully, the players started making their way back onto the ice, distracting her.

“Reed better get his act together. He’s been playing like total crap.”

“He has?”

“Yeah, and the Devils are losing three to two. The third period is just about to start, so it’s not over yet, but if they don’t do something quick, they’re going to lose to Sunshine Prep for the first time in forever.”

I followed Cammie’s gaze down to the rink just as Reed appeared on the ice. It was never difficult to spot Reed. Even among a crowd of guys in the same uniform, he stood out because of his sheer size and stature. But something seemed off today. Whenever I saw him in public, he usually radiated a sense of power and confidence. And both times I’d seen him skate, he had displayed effortless skill and grace, probably a result of the figure skating lessons he was so embarrassed about. But, right now, his shoulders were slumped, and his head was bowed low. He looked far from confident.

I watched as Jeremy skated past him and purposefully knocked his shoulder into Reed’s. I sucked in a breath as Reed spun to face him. The two of them started talking, and with every word Jeremy spoke, Reed seemed to grow even more uncomfortable. I could almost see his hands clenching tighter around his hockey stick. It looked like it was taking everything in him not to lash out with his fists.

By some miracle, they didn’t come to blows, and after what felt like an eternity, Jeremy turned away from Reed and skated to the center of the ice rink. A few moments later, Reed followed after him, taking up a position directly opposite his rival.

‘It’s Jeremy against Reed in the face-off to start the final period,” Cammie said, practically rubbing her hands together in anticipation. “If this doesn’t wake Reed up, I don’t know what will.”

My stomach tensed at her words. The animosity between the Devils and Saints was clear to see on the ice and in the stands. But the rivalry between these two guys was a different level entirely. I just hoped Reed was capable of getting through the rest of the game without injuring Jeremy again.

But then something shifted in Reed’s stance, and he slowly lifted his eyes to the stands. He found me straightaway. The arena was packed, but it felt like I was the only one he could see. A weight seemed to lift from his shoulders as we locked eyes, the corner of his mouth twitched, and a look of determination entered his gaze before he turned to face Jeremy once more.

My breath caught in my throat as Reed dropped his stick, threw his gloves down on the ground, and peeled his helmet from his head.

“Oh no, I think they’re going to fight,” Paige said, her voice laced with panic and concern.

Jeremy stood tall opposite Reed, but it looked like he was recoiling slightly, and my chest filled with dread. Was Paige right?

Some fans a few rows back began cheering at the top of their lungs. “Fight! Fight! Fight!” It was the same group of shirtless guys I’d seen the first time I’d watched Reed play when I accidently attended one of his games. Their shirts were missing today too, and the number twenty-three was once again painted over their chests. There was an excited look in their eyes and they were clearly desperate for the boys to fight.

“Reed’s not that stupid, is he?” Cammie said, a look of genuine concern in her eyes as she glanced at me. “If he lays one hand on Hoffman, he can kiss college hockey goodbye. They’ll think he hasn’t learned from his mistake in freshman year.” As she returned her focus to the ice, she started yelling. “He’s not worth it, Reed. Just play the game!”

All I could think was that Reed had broken Jeremy’s nose once before because of a girl. And, now, because of me, he was going to make that same mistake again.

But the determined look in Reed’s eyes hadn’t dampened, and as he took a step toward Jeremy, Paige reached out and grabbed my hand. Even Jeremy seemed to flinch, but then Reed paused. He lowered one knee to the ice as if he were giving a dramatic bow.

The whole arena went silent. Even Reed’s superfans behind me stopped chanting. It was like the entire world was holding its breath.

Then Reed started moving.

He swooped one leg around him as he rose and began gracefully gliding backward, the sound of his blades slicing through the ice filling the silent and shocked arena. The players and umpires had all stopped to watch him. And everyone was either confused or shocked as he began effortlessly weaving around the outskirts of the rink, his arms wide and his jersey billowing from the speed. Then Reed leaped into the air, spun in a complete circle, and landed perfectly on one skate. It was the same jump he’d shown me last weekend. The one that most definitely wasn’t a hockey maneuver.

The entire arena gasped, and I heard one of Reed’s superfans mutter behind me: “What the hell was that?”

“What is he doing?” Paige squealed as Reed continued to glide around the ice, lifting one leg in the air behind him. He wobbled slightly, like this move was even more challenging than the last, but he still pulled it off.

“Oh my god.” I lifted a to hand to my mouth in surprise. “It’s the routine.” I turned to Cammie. “He’s doing your routine.” I didn’t know whether to cringe, cry, or laugh. Reed looked ridiculous doing the figure skating maneuvers in his hockey gear, but he was such an incredible skater that he somehow made it work.

“What?” Cammie grabbed my arm but kept her eyes on Reed, and realization slowly dawned in them. “No!” she protested, lifting her hands to cover her eyes. “Why would he do that? This is so embarrassing. I’m never going to be able to show my face at school again.”

“Doesn’t he care about the game?” Paige asked.

“I think…” I hesitated, unsure if I was confident enough to voice my thoughts out loud or confident enough to believe it was true. “I think it’s for me,” I said, the words almost a whisper. “He’s showing me that I’m more important than the game.”

“Well, can’t he just tell you that?” Cammie replied before she started shouting at the ice. “Reed, stop! Go back and fight Hoffman now, or I’ll break your nose!”

But Reed was never one for half measures, and he didn’t let up. He landed another spin, and this time, instead of shocked silence, people started clapping. As he performed his next move, more spectators joined in the applause. Even the shirtless Devils fans started whistling and shouting their approval, and before I knew it, every person in our section of the arena was on their feet cheering for Reed.

Music began to blare from the speakers surrounding the rink, which only hyped up the crowd even more and spurred Reed on. Finally, the umpires shook themselves into action, and they shot across the ice toward him. But Reed was too fast and too skilled. He easily dodged around them, keeping well out of their reach as he continued twirling and leaping through the air. A few of his teammates seemed to be lending a helping hand by shifting just at the right moment to block the umpires from getting to their captain.

As Reed’s routine came to a close and he fell down onto his knees, the crowd went wild. Even the Saints supporters were clapping. Reed finally looked up, his eyes met mine, and he blew me a kiss. In that moment, I knew beyond doubt that all of it was for me, and it felt like my heart exploded. There was a nervous smile on his lips, and he didn’t seem the least bit worried about the game or what the routine might have done to his infamous reputation. He had sacrificed it all for me.

One of the umpires finally grabbed him by the arm and began directing him toward the penalty box. Reed waved and bowed to the crowd as he went.

“I have to talk to him,” I said. I could feel my heart pounding against my chest, a mix of worry and guilt swirling within me. Had he messed up the entire game for his team with that performance? Was he even going to bother playing once he was let back on the ice? I refused to let him lose this game because of me. I was here because Paige had insisted he needed my support to be at his best. But my presence only seemed to be doing the opposite.

“Go,” Paige insisted. “You better hurry. He might not be in the box for long.”

I nodded, but just as I was about to make my way to the stairs, I paused. “I’m just missing one thing.”

I turned to face the shirtless Devils fans in the row behind us and reached past one of them to grab the red hockey jersey off the back of his seat. “Mind if I borrow this?”

He shrugged before nodding his approval. I held it up and smiled when I saw the name and number on the back: Darling, number twenty-three. Reed had just tried to prove hockey wasn’t the most important thing to him. I needed to show him that if it mattered to him, it mattered to me.

I threw the jersey over my head before I raced down the bleachers and around the rink until I was directly behind the penalty box where Reed was sitting.

When I reached it, I threw my fists against the Perspex separating us.

“What the hell was that?” I yelled.

Reed’s eyes looked worried as he turned, but the moment he saw me in his jersey, a smile spread across his face. “You wearing my number, Sunshine?”

“Maybe.”

He came over and pressed his hands against the glass between us. “It looks good on you. Does this mean you’re a hockey fan now?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Uh, I don’t think that was hockey I was just watching. What were you doing out there?”

A cheer went up from the crowd, but it was followed by a groan as a Saints player shot wide of the goal. The game had started again, and with Reed off the ice, the Devils were a player down, and the Saints appeared to be taking full advantage.

“I heard what Jeremy told you,” Reed said. “None of it is true, but there was no way I was going to let him come between us, so I had no other choice…”

“But to show everyone the routine?”

He nodded.

“You said you’d never let anyone see it. That it would destroy your reputation and you’d have to be out of your mind to embarrass yourself like that.”

“Maybe I have lost my mind.” He grinned. “But I don’t care. I don’t care about any of that. All I care about is you, Violet. I just needed to let you know, that nothing is more important than you. Especially not this game.”

“I believe you.” His smile slowly grew as I spoke. “But I’m not letting you lose today because of me. You need to go back out there and win.”

Reed looked ready to argue. “But⁠—”

“I told you I believe you,” I said softly. “I know you wouldn’t use me just to win this game and get back at Jeremy. You were right. I was scared of being hurt again, and I ran. But I don’t want to be scared anymore. Not if it means I can’t be with you.”

“You want to be with me?”

I glanced down at the Devils jersey I was wearing, before looking back up into his eyes. “That night at the bonfire, I told Jeremy I’d finally found a guy whose jersey I wanted to wear. I didn’t know it then, but that wasn’t a lie. I want to be with you Reed. For real.”

His face lit in such a large, beaming smile I couldn’t help but return it.

“But only if you win the game,” I said. “I didn’t come here to watch you lose.”

A thunderous cheer sounded around the arena, and I looked past Reed to see the entire Sunshine Prep team celebrating with Jeremy. He’d scored another goal, pulling the Saints ahead by two.

“Looks like I have some work to do then.” Reed grinned, and there was such a determined look in his eyes I almost felt sorry for the Saints players—almost. As Reed was released from the box, I turned back to the bleachers, quickly finding the nearest seat so I wouldn’t miss a moment.

When play restarted, Reed seemed like a different person than the one I’d seen trudging onto the ice just after I’d arrived. He erupted back into the fray like he was going into battle, and it was incredible to witness how quickly he took charge of the game.

He was barking orders at his teammates and challenging Saints players for the puck, leaving them sprawled on the ice at his feet. It looked like the small black disc was glued to his stick as he weaved around his opponents, and every pass he whipped across the ice to his fellow Devils found its mark.

It didn’t take long for Reed’s influence to pay off. He shared passes with both Grayson and Parker to move the puck up the ice before sending a pinpoint shot past the goalie into the corner of the net. A cheer went up from the crowd as the siren behind the goal wailed, and nervous anticipation flooded my veins. The Devils were now only down by one.

Reed continued to help his team dominate the game, and I could see Jeremy becoming more and more frustrated. He just couldn’t keep up with Reed when he was playing with this much skill and determination. My ex’s annoyance reached another level as Reed scored again to tie the game at four goals each. This time, the goal was all about sheer power. Reed had received the puck right in the center of the ice, and although it looked like he was way too far from the goal, Reed sent his shot flying past the goalie before he could even see it.

The Devils didn’t have it all their own way after that, and as the minutes ticked away, I was growing increasingly nervous. Anything could still happen, and if the Saints managed to score another goal and the Devils lost the game, Reed would still be blamed.

With less than a minute left on the clock, Reed dazzled the crowd with some lightning-quick stick handling as he weaved and maneuvered the puck around almost every Saints player on the ice. Eventually, there was only Jeremy between Reed and the goal. As they closed in on each other, Reed pretended to shoot the puck, but then he subtly flicked it to Parker who was racing past his right side.

Jeremy didn’t change course, and he deliberately slammed his forearm into Reed’s chest even though he no longer had the puck. The Devils fans around me jumped to their feet and shouted in disgust while chaos erupted on the ice as the Ransom players surrounded Jeremy. But I only had eyes for Reed, who was lying motionless on the ground.

I wanted to run down from the bleachers, scale the glass, and rush onto the ice to check he was okay, but just as I started for the steps, Reed slowly climbed to his feet.

The umpires had managed to separate Reed’s teammates from Jeremy, who was now being pushed toward the penalty box, his face red with anger. He glared at Reed as he passed, but when Reed turned, I saw a smile tug at the corners of his lips, and he sent Jeremy a taunting wink.

The Saints were now down a player, and it was Ransom’s turn to take advantage. Despite the seconds on the clock speeding toward zero, Reed was calm and composed. Only a few moments after the game restarted, he regained possession of the puck and shot off down the ice with it. The defenders tried to block him, but with a quick feint and a burst of speed, he raced toward the goal effortlessly. The Saints desperately tried to keep up, but he was unstoppable.

When he sent the puck past the goalie and into the net, scoring the winning goal, he was mobbed by his teammates, and the cheers from the Ransom fans were deafening. I joined in with them, shouting as loudly as I could, hoping Reed could hear me at the bottom of the pile of Devils celebrating on the ice.

When Reed came off the ice after the game, he found me immediately and swooped me up in his arms. I laughed, my cheeks growing warm as he spun me around because it felt like the entire arena was watching us, and I could still hear people cheering Reed on.

“Everyone is going to think you’re up for an encore of your performance,” I said.

‘They might be waiting awhile,” he replied.

“Shame.”

He laughed and lowered me to my feet once more. “So, I won the game…”

“You did.”

“I guess that means you’re stuck with me.”

“I guess so.” I reached up and pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips before I nodded behind him. “I think you might be needed.”

Reed’s coach was waving him over, and there was a hard look on his face. Reed let out a grunt. “I don’t think he wants to compliment my Axel.”

“Hmm. Maybe not.”

“Can I come find you once I’m done? If I survive Coach Ray.”

“Sure.” I smiled. “I’ll wait out front. I need a ride, and I was thinking I could grab one with my boyfriend if that’s okay?”

The beaming smile that lit up his face might have been the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. “Yeah, I think that’s okay.”

I was grinning as I watched him go. Apparently, I was a hockey fan after all. I’d just needed the right guy to cheer for.

The parking lot had transformed as I made my way outside. The storm that had swept through town earlier in the day had blown over, but the entire lot was now covered in a new blanket of snow. It was like a fresh canvas, waiting for new footprints to pave their way across it. And as I looked out at the snow, I couldn’t help but feel like Reed and I were getting a fresh start too. Today felt like a new beginning, a chance to create new memories and leave some of the more painful ones behind. And I was excited to see where our footprints would lead us next.

Unfortunately, Jeremy found me while I was waiting for Reed. His face twisted in a scowl as he made his way toward me. I thought he might have snuck off in shame after Sunshine Prep’s defeat, but apparently that was just wishful thinking.

“He’ll be done with you now he’s got what he wanted,” Jeremy said.

I didn’t get a chance to respond because Reed arrived at my side, placing his arm across the back of my shoulders. “Actually, I think we’re just getting started,” he said. “Aren’t we, Sunshine?”

“I’d say so.” I reached up and placed a kiss on his cheek. “You were amazing out there, by the way.”

“There was a girl in the stands I was trying to impress.”

Jeremy scoffed and hitched his hockey bag up on his shoulder. “I don’t know what I ever saw in you anyway, Violet.” His words might have been harsh, but there was regret evident in his eyes. He walked away without looking back, and as I watched him leave, I breathed a little easier. I didn’t think Jeremy would be bothering me again. It seemed Reed and I had finally achieved the goal I’d set out to accomplish with our fake relationship. In the end though, it had taken something real to get the job done.

Reed pulled me a little closer as he gazed down at me. “I think I could easily come up with a list of things he saw in you.”

“I don’t need a list.” I laughed.

“Are you sure? Because I’m more than happy to write one up and pass it on to him.”

“Maybe we should just leave it at humiliating him on the ice today.”

“Hmm. Maybe we probably shouldn’t talk about humiliations on the ice for a while, considering my little mid-game show.”

I grinned.

“But, you’re right, that did feel pretty good.” Reed returned my smile. “Do you know what would feel even better?”

“What?”

“This.” As he leaned down and pulled me in for a kiss, light flurries of snow began to flutter down around us. The moment was kind of perfect, and for the first time since I’d moved to Sunshine Hills, I didn’t mind the cold. I’d changed my mind about a lot of things today. It turned out the cold had its own beauty, hockey was kind of addictive, and hockey players weren’t so bad after all—well, one of them, at least.